The Virgin’s Daughter by Laura Andersen
Historical Romance
Releases: May 26, 2015
Ballantine Books
Reviewed by Sheena
What if Elizabeth the First, the celebrated Virgin Queen, had a daughter? Since the death of her brother, William, Elizabeth I has ruled England. She’s made the necessary alliances, married Philip of Spain, and produced a successor: her only daughter, Anne Isabella, Princess of Wales. Elizabeth knows that her beloved Anabel will be a political pawn across Europe unless she can convince Philip to grant her a divorce, freeing him to remarry and give Spain its own heir. But the enemies of England have even greater plans for the princess, a plot that will put Anabel’s very life and the security of the nation in peril. Only those closest to Elizabeth—her longtime confidante Minuette, her advisor and friend Dominic, and the couple’s grown children—can be trusted to carry forth a most delicate and dangerous mission. Yet, all of the queen’s maneuverings may ultimately prove her undoing.
I love Tudor era historical fiction. It is such a seductive and captivating age that I lose myself in all the danger, plotting, beheading and scandalous liaisons. Andersen’s Virgin Daughter is an unexpected departure from typical Tudor romance story telling. Her take on the genre is an “alternative” historical. Almost like a giant “Elizabethan England fan fiction” story. I was intrigued and what I experienced was quite off the rails from what I have come to expect.
The first lesson is, alternative means alternative. Hundreds of fictional novels have been written on the life and times of King Henry VII and his penchant for maidens and uxoricide and all of the precariousness of his court, and we know the tale quite well. Tinkering with the historical facts and playing fast and loose with the framework can be dicey and a definite gamble. Andersen was ambitious, however, The Virgin’s Daughter did not quite get there for me.
Because copious amounts of literary licence was taken in the rebooting of Queen Elizabeth’s story, not to mention as the 4th book in the series, there was an unpleasant amount of loose world building that took place, which distracted me from really losing myself in the story. I do not recommend this novel as a stand alone. Becoming engaged in the story required some heavy lifting. I found myself a little bored after a few chapters, but stuck it out to the end to see what, if anything could be salvaged of the plot. The story is not inviting and felt more like a history book. While I enjoy history, I have not had an inkling to read a history book in more than fifteen years. The structure of the novel was a big hurdle as one of the best features of historical fiction is the dialogue and there was far to many passages of summary and far too little action happening in real-time on the pages.
I do not feel as if I were able to get to know the characters and I do not care to continue the series or pick up the first four novels in the series. Though the resolution is not a great mystery, there is a twist that I will not spoil for those who may find this novel interesting enough to delve into. I can say, however, that the main historical occurrences are present. Queen Elizabeth does feel the danger and tensions surrounding her relationship and alliance with Spain and Mary Queen of Scots is very much her adversary. The story of Anabel, the daughter to Elizabeth and Philip of Spain, is at the forefront, yet, her life paled in comparison to the more interesting subplots regarding Queen Elizabeth’s tenuous hold on the throne. Just when I would be settled in and think, okay, it is getting interesting again, the focus would shift and I would be right back at not being able to care less what ultimately befell this fictional revisionist daughter. One positive note I can share is that there are some beautiful letters between the characters that often times saved a sinking chapter. The information in the letters actually moved the plot along further than any of the rambling passages ever did.
By the time the action began, it ended with my favorite scene being the prisoner barter where Mary’s freedom is on the line.
“I won’t offer again,’ Nicholas promised.
“You said Mary’s freedom for the girls.”
“I promised a princess for a queen. You have her.”
“And my sister?”
“Ah, a sister requires the offer of a brother.”
Kit glared. “Good thing I’m standing right here.”
“Not her brother, boy. Mine…”
Finally! Though, I would have had Mary taken care of her long before (hey, its Tudor fan-fiction-revisionist history, there are no real implications on the monarchy and church anyway right!?). Besides, invested fans of the series, I am not sure what audience would really enjoy this novel. Very slow paced, the action was much ado about nothing quite frankly and the heat factor ranks at barely a sizzle. This is absolutely my last foray into alternative history Tudor fiction.
Grade: D
Note: Mandi screwed up and thought this book released on May 19, when it actually releases May 26. Sorry the review is a week early!
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